Merremia hederacea (Burm.f.) Hallier f.

Simões, A. R., Silva, H. & Silveira, P., 2011, The Convolvulaceae of Timor with special reference to East Timor, Blumea 56 (1), pp. 49-72 : 65

4. Merremia hederacea (Burm.f.) Hallier f. — Map 14

Merremia hederacea Hallier f. (1893b) 118; Ooststr. (in Ooststr. & Hoogland

1953) 441; Kalkman (1955) 216. Evolvulus hederaceus Burm.f. (1768) 77. Ipomoea chryseides Ker Gawl. (1818) t. 270; Decne. (1834) 392; Span.

(1841) 339; Miq. (1856) 616; Fawc. (1885) 511.

Distribution — Tropical Africa, Mascarene Islands, tropical Asia from the Himalaya southwards to Sri Lanka and eastwards to Myanmar, Southern China, Indo-China, and Siam ( Thailand), to Queensland, and the Carolines (Yap), throughout Malesia, also in Christmas Island (Van Ooststroom & Hoogland 1953).

Habitat & Ecology — In thickets, in open grasslands, and on sand-banks, from sea level to 50 m (Van Ooststroom & Hoogland 1953).

Uses — Used for treating acute tonsillitis ( Fang & Staples 1995); a poultice of the leaves, with turmeric and broken rice, is used upon chapped hands and feet. Animals eat the plant (Burkill in Van Ooststroom & Hoogland 1953).

Vernacular name — Ai-talic (Tetum).

Figures

Map 14 Distribution of Merremia dichotoma Ooststr. ($), M. emarginata (Burm.f.) Hallier f. (5), M. gemella (Burm.f.) Hallier f. (:) and M. hederacea (Burm.f.) Hallier f. (-).